Creede

Sunday morning in Creede. Main Street pretty quiet until shops open. We worshipped this morning at a small Congregational church that apparently is going through transition to new pastor and asking some of same questions that St Andrews is right now. Worshipful discussion and sermon.

   We went to Creede Repratory Theater production of theater classic, "Our Town." Was amazing.  . .again.  We have seen some really good plays at this local theater.

  Creede is such an interesting town.  If you drive thru on 149 you could easily miss downtown as you have to turn off the hiway to find main street.   And then if you don't follow main street to the end you could miss the road that goes directly up into the mountain and to the historic mines up there. If you follow that road all the way you come out on top with commanding views of the valley.

Ivy Creek and North Creek Falls

We decided to hike the Ivy Creek Trail this morning.  We have done this one before and remembered it as a pleasant trail across a mountain meadow.  It follows Ivy Creek and had several stream crossings which sometimes prove to be interesting depending on water levels. The trail was muddy in spots too but was still a nice 5 mile hike.  We finished in time to treat ourselves to lunch at Freeman's. It's a local road house out of town with great hamburgers. 

After lunch we continued up the road for a look at North Clear Creek Falls.  You can't see it from the road until you drive into parking area.  It just falls from a meadow into a deep canyon. 

This is the prettiest overlook on hiway 149

It overlooks Brown Lakes and on forever into the valley.  That peak in the distance is Snowy Pass where the headwaters of Rio Grand begin

This is beginning of Ivy Creek trail. We have some cattle to see us off

Rio Grand Reservoir

We spent the day hiking a short trail alongside and above the reservoir and then viewing the roads around this really huge reservoir. There are a couple of resorts way back in that are completely off the grid. Great get-away if that is what you are looking for.  Above the reservoir are 4x4 roads that lead up to Stoney Pass at 13000ft where the Rio Grand headwaters begin. We are not quite adventurous enough to try those roads.  . .not in our Honda for sure.
  Wanted to hike this area last year but that's when I broke my ankle.  We found a lovely waterfall with a rustic bridge that I am quite sure Carol and Andy hiked to this summer!

In the evening we took a drive on the road above  Creede and revisited the spot where I fell and broke my ankle last year.  I didn't even get out of the car in case the spot was jinxed. Don't want to repeat that experience.

Marshal Park campground next to the Rio Grand

Colorado has had some smoky skies from the fires out west but recent rains have brought back the crystal blue skies to make a beautiful drive to South Fork and on up past Creede to a National Forest campground on the banks of the Rio Grand River. Dry camping here for a while, slight cell service just enough to get emails. Very quiet except for the river rushing over rocks.

City to mountains

Flying out of Newark airport early morning, catching the sun on the wingtip with Manhatten in the distance. Left the kiddos after a precious week with grandchildren.

Landed in Denver 4 hours later. Had to get a tire fixed on the Honda, I took opportunity to get my nails done. We still were back at campground and set up beside Chalk Creek by late afternoon.

Last night

Flying back to Denver tomorrow morning. One last evening with the kids.

Out for a cold one

An outing to a Korean bakery is just the ticket for a hot day.  The pastries are amazing, too.

Or relaxing in the shade on the deck and enjoying a little conversation is pretty nice too

But this Bingsu-- shave ice, icecream, strawberries, caramel, bits of mochi, bits of cheese cake--is everybody's favorite way to cool off.

With the grandkids

We stored the RV for ten days and went to see two special little girls. . .and their Mom and Dad.

Drive In movie

Buena Vista has a drive-in-movie theater that is open on weekends.  We haven't done this since--I can't remember when! We popped a big bag of popcorn and brought some drinks and drove out there just at dusk.  We saw a Disney animated movie called Inside Out, that I thought was kinda cute.  Surprisingly the place looked like a sell out. Lots of families with kids in their jammies and others sitting on hoods of their car. . .just like I remember.  Great fun.

Watching and Relaxing

Sitting under our awning relaxing as the typical afternoon shower rolls through. Perfect timing for an early afternoon nap.

We went into Bueno Vista this morning, stopped at a coffee shop and went down to a city park along the Arkansas River.  Mild rafting happens on this stretch of river but there are a couple of spots where people come to "play" in the rapids doing acrobatics and tricks with their modified kayaks.  One amazing woman was actually using a paddle - board.  We watched their antics for a long time, I don't know who enjoyed it more--the kyakers or the audience. 

Friday

As often happens in the mountains the days start off bright, clear and sunny but then by mid afternoon the clouds come in and mountain showers pop up. We've learned to do out door activities early as you could get caught in a shower.  We visited a local hot springs resort after dinner last night for a nice warm soak.  We got all comfy in the pool for maybe a half hour and thunder and lightning forced them to close. But we got a rain check which turned out to be a good deal as we actually got another day.
   Will hadn't been out on his bike for far too long , and this morning he thought it was time.  He found the valley roads deceptively difficult, but I think he enjoyed the challenge. Soon as he finished, we went right back to the resort and used our rain check.  They have several large pools kept around 105 degrees but it is also right next to a creek where you can climb in a pool where people have cleared rocks out, right where thermal hot water is seeping out of the ground and into the creek. We tried it but too inconsistent, big pools better and easier to get in and out of.  Although it was fun to try.

So then we went again this evening, can't not make the best of an all day pass.

Alpine tunnel trail

Once the highest railroad tunnel in the world, at an altitude of 11,523ft, it was the first tunnel to be built through the Continental Divide. Construction crews began on either end in 1880 with plans to complete it in 6 months. It actually took them two years and was way over budget. When the first narrow gauge train came through in July of 1882, it was 1,772 feet long, over two miles above sea level and the most expensive rail tunnel built up until that time. The tunnel was plagued with accidents and winter storms during its 30 years in use and finally abandoned in 1910.
    It's now a fantastic hiking, part of the Continental Divide National trail leading up to both portals.  We hiked 8 miles total (up and back)to the east side where it is collapsed and fully covered with rock rubble. You can still imagine it all,  in fact a lot of the trail you can walk on the remains of 150 year old track.
The views were incredible plus the wildflowers were a riot of color. Probably the best and most abundant we have seen this year.  Best of Colorado